Vocaloid

Not to be confused with Focaloid.
This article is about the software as a whole. For the first edition, see Vocaloid (software).

Vocaloid
Developer(s)Yamaha Corporation
Initial releaseJanuary 15, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-01-15)
Stable release
Vocaloid 6 / October 13, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-10-13)
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
macOS
iOS (Mobile Vocaloid Editor, Japan only)
Available inJapanese, English, Korean, Spanish, Chinese, Catalan
TypeVoice synthesizer software
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.vocaloid.com/en/

Vocaloid (ボーカロイド, Bōkaroido) is a singing voice synthesizer software product. Its signal processing part was developed through a joint research project between Yamaha Corporation and the Music Technology Group in Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona.[1] The software was ultimately developed into the commercial product "Vocaloid" that was released in 2004.[2][3]

The software enables users to synthesize "singing" by typing in lyrics and melody and also "speech" by typing in the script of the required words. It uses synthesizing technology with specially recorded vocals of voice actors or singers. To create a song, the user must input the melody and lyrics. A piano roll type interface is used to input the melody and the lyrics can be entered on each note. The software can change the stress of the pronunciations, add effects such as vibrato, or change the dynamics and tone of the voice.

Various voice banks have been released for use with the Vocaloid synthesizer technology.[4] Each is sold as "a singer in a box" designed to act as a replacement for an actual singer.[5] As such, they are released under a moe anthropomorphism. These avatars are also referred to as Vocaloids, and are often marketed as virtual idols; some have gone on to perform at live concerts as an on-stage projection.[6]

The software was originally only available in English starting with the first Vocaloids Leon, Lola and Miriam by Zero-G, and Japanese with Meiko and Kaito made by Yamaha and sold by Crypton Future Media. Vocaloid 3 has added support for Spanish for the Vocaloids Bruno, Clara and Maika; Chinese for Luo Tianyi, Yuezheng Ling, Xin Hua and Yanhe; and Korean for SeeU.

The software is intended for professional musicians as well as casual computer music users.[7] Japanese musical groups such as Livetune of Toy's Factory and Supercell of Sony Music Entertainment Japan have released their songs featuring Vocaloid as vocals. Japanese record label Exit Tunes of Quake Inc. also have released compilation albums featuring Vocaloids.[8][9]

  1. ^ Bonada, Jordi (2008). Voice Processing and Synthesis by Performance Sampling and Spectral Models (PhD thesis). Universitat Pompeu Fabra. p. 225. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3662127.
  2. ^ Werde, Bill (November 23, 2003). "MUSIC; Could I Get That Song in Elvis, Please?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  3. ^ Kenmochi, Ohshima & , Interspeech 2007
  4. ^ "Voice Bank product list". Yamaha Corporation. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  5. ^ "Hatsune Miku and the Vocaloid Idol Revolution". Nerdist. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  6. ^ "Who (or What) is Hatsune Miku? The Making of a Virtual Pop Star". The Shutterstock Blog. October 16, 2014. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  7. ^ Wilkinson, Scott. "Humanoid or Vocaloid". Electronic Musician (August 1, 2003). Archived from the original on 2004-07-10. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  8. ^ "初音ミクなどの人気曲だけを集めた高音質コンピCDが登場！" [A High Sound Quality Compilation CD, Collecting Only Popular Songs such as Hatsune Miku's, Appears!]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. June 12, 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  9. ^ "初音ミクCD、週間ランキングでも初のオリコン1位に" [Hatsune Miku CD Scores the First Oricon Number-One on the Weekly Ranking] (in Japanese). ITmedia Inc. May 25, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-22.